Color deviation map
The full scanned surface compared to the CAD. Surface above nominal moves toward red, surface below moves toward blue, and on plane reads green. The whole part, not a scatter of points.
Dimensional Inspection
The part against the CAD, every surface, in color.
We scan the part, align it to your datum scheme, and compare the whole surface to the nominal CAD model. What comes back is a color deviation map that shows exactly where the part runs high, low, or on plane, plus a GD&T report that reads out every controlled feature against its tolerance. For a first article or a recurring production check, it is the full-field evidence a probe report cannot give you.
What does the report contain?
GD&T evaluation
True position, flatness, profile, cylindricity, runout, and the rest of your callouts measured against the drawing, each with its result and pass or fail status.
Datum alignment
A best-fit or point alignment first, then a precise alignment built on the datum features called out on your drawing, so the numbers reflect the part's real reference scheme.
Can a scan support a first article inspection?
Yes, when it is done the right way. First article inspection is defined for aerospace, space, and defense work by SAE AS9102, and the report lists every dimension and its deviation, the drawing references with GD&T, the measurement results, and the method used. A 3D scan feeds that documentation when the scanner's measurement uncertainty is characterized and stated, the alignment matches the drawing's datum scheme, and the output meets the AS9102 form requirements.
A scan earns its place on a first article by covering the whole surface, catching a profile deviation between the points a probe would have sampled. Where the deciding feature is a tight bore or a sharp edge, a touch probe still holds the reference, and we say so. The honest split between the two lives in 3D scanning versus a CMM.
Where dimensional inspection pays off over time.
First article on a new part
Prove the first run matches the print before a production lot commits, with a full-surface record behind the numbers.
Recurring production QC
Check parts on a schedule against the same CAD and datum scheme, catching drift in a tool or process before it makes scrap.
Tooling and mold validation
Compare a die, mold, or fixture to its design after cutting or after wear, and see where it moved across the whole form.
What does it cost?
Inspection is scoped to the part, the number of controlled features, and the report format you need, so it is quoted per job rather than by area. A recurring program is priced per run once the setup is dialed in, which is where a standing account gets efficient. Send us the part and the drawing and we quote it directly.
For building and site capture we publish flat scan rates. Part inspection and object work are quoted per piece. Background on object pricing is in what object scanning costs.
Tell us about the part.
Send us the part, the drawing with its GD&T and datums, and whether it is a first article or a recurring check. We scan it, align to your datums, compare it to the CAD, and hand you a color deviation map and a GD&T report.
Get a quoteQuestions about an inspection? Reach us at info@scanningandmodeling.com or (772) 210-4584.